Thompson Valley High School volleyball wins regional title, punches ticket to state

Eagles making second trip in three years

By Sean Star Sports Writer

Posted:
11/03/2012 10:07:12 PM MDT

Two years ago, the Thompson Valley High School volleyball team had a historic season. It won a conference and district championship on the way to the state tournament. All were program firsts.

However, there was one banner that alluded that Eagles squad, and on Saturday the 2012 team accomplished the feat by winning the program's first-ever regional title.

After beating Evergreen in four sets earlier in the day, No. 6 TVHS topped No. 19 Montrose 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 27-25 to clinch the Region 6 title and secure the Eagles their third trip to the Class 4A state tournament in three years.

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"Our motto since I've beenhere is building a tradition and leaving a legacy," said Eagles coach Nathan Fristed, whose team improved to 16-8. "And the thing is each senior class, each team wants to leave their mark that the next year has to look up to.

"2010 got us the first conference championship, first district championship. We missed out on the regional even though we still got the first team ever to go to state. Now this team, we didn't get those two, but a regional championship is nice. And to go to state for the second time in three years is awesome."

Thompson Valley High School volleyball players celebrate after winning a point during set one of their regional title match against Montrose on Saturday at TVHS. The Eagles won their first-ever regional championship and clinched their second trip to the Class 4A state tournament in three years.
(
Steve Stoner
)

After beating the Indians in straight sets two months ago at the Lewis Palmer Tournament, TV faced a much different Montrose team Saturday at TVHS. The teams split the first two sets before the Eagles took control of the match with a third-set victory that was cliched by an ace from Katie Beard.

Refusing to let its season end quietly, Montrose led for a majority of the fourth set and was just one point away from taking it the distance, leading 24-21. But a sideout by the Eagles proved to turn the momentum in favor of the hosts. That immediately led to a string of four straight kills by Emily Newton to complete the comeback and seal the victory, sending the TV players into a celebratory dogpile on the court after the teams shook hands.

"I just had to make adjustments to where I was hitting and how hard I was hitting," said Newton, who finished the regional title match with 24 kills, four blocks and seven digs. "My coaches really helped me out, and my team. I mean, we pulled it together. It was awesome."

Though it was Newton who dominated late, several Eagles provided significant contributions. Senior setter Hannah McCrimmon had 51 assists, 13 digs, two kills, two aces and two blocks; freshman middle Tayor Moran added 15 kills and four blocks; junior outside hitter Paige Daniels had 10 kills, 16 digs and a block; and Beard had nine kills, 30 digs and an ace.

"Thirty or 40 years from now, I can come back and look up there and know that I was on that team that helped win regionals," Beard said. "We definitely were the underdogs coming into the season, but we proved everyone wrong I feel like, and we're going to do our best to compete at state."

Newton was just a freshman two years ago when the program made its inaugural trip to the Denver Coliseum, and was a regular in last year's rotation when the Eagles fell painfully short of returning.

"It really was hard last year, but I mean it changed all now because we're going now and I'm super excited," she said. "Right now I want to enjoy it, and Monday we'll have to come up with a game plan and everything."